Elders from the northern Nigeria have expressed negative views on the recent declaration of state of emergency in three states- Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, all in northeast, saying it is an indirect declaration of war on the entire region.
They were apparently taken aback by the President’s action despite earlier calls by eminent Nigerians including opposition parties that declaration of emergency rule should not be an option.
The spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Ango Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on Thursday expressed the group’s disappointment on the development.
“It is very sad for us to see that the President has easily changed direction from dialogue and reconciliation to war in his bid to end the cycle of violence in the north,” Abdullahi said.
It will be recalled, that President Jonathan in line with the mood of the country had inaugurated a Presidential Committee on Dialogue and resolution of Crisis in the north headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
The committee, which comprises eminent Nigerians, including Bolaji Akinyemi, Hakeem Baab-Ahmed, Sheik Ahmed Lemu among others is saddled with the responsibility of opening up channels for dialogue with the Islamist insurgents, Boko Haram.
